Artificial hand.



PATEN'TED DEC. 5, 1905."

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Illllllllllllllllll I v H. FBLIO. ARTIFICIAL HAND. APPLIUATION FILED JAN 4, 1906 PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. H. L. FELIO.

ARTIFICIAL HAND. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 4, 1905.

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Fig. 12;

In bani?) F" firwg l /0A UNI D STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. FEIlIO, OF ZION CITY, ILLINOIS. I

= ARTIF CIAL HAND.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .I, HARRY, L. FELIO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zion City,

in the county of- Lake and State of Illinois,

have invented a new and useful Artificial Hand,-of which the following is a specifica-j tion.

My invention relates to improvements in artificial hands in which the joints of the fingers and thumb are connected,-by. means of connecting-rods, to the mechanism in the center of the hand, which mechanism is operated broken.

-in which articles; third, to afford facilities to regulate the position of the hand in reference to the wrist and forearm; fourth, to provide a hand that is light and, on the other hand, strong enough so that it-cannot be easily injured or I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the followingdrawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of the mechanism with the top or outer surface of the hand and fingers removed looking ,at the palm of the hand. Fig. 2 is aside view of the worm-gear.

in place against the rotating disk. Fig. is

--a side view of the worm-gear out of gear. Fig. 4 shows the ratchet for manipulating the worm-gear. Fig. 5 is a side view of the-standard supporting the shaft, showing the pinion- :wheel and rack. Fig. 6 is a side view of the hand and thumb with the outer covering removed. Fig. .7 is a side view of the thumb and forefinger when the thumb is closed over the finger. A showing its connection with the. hand. Fig. 9 is a side view of the irons connecting the thumb to the hand. Fig. 10 is a view of the interior mechanism of the hollow wrist-ball.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the. thumb and first finger when touching each other.

Fig.'12 is a side View of the spring in the rods connecting the thumb to the mechanism of the hand itself. Fig. 13 shows the-attachment of the artificial hand to the forearm and arm.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The fingers consist of aluminium or wood,

shaped in the form of a finger, but divided- Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1905. Serial No. 239,667.

Fig. 8 is a backview of thethumb,

Patented Dec. 5, .1905.

into two sections, each section having a thin steel plate running down its center, as shown in Fig. 1.

The steel plate A in the first'section of the finger is connected with the steel plate or handiron 0 in the hand itself by the link D, as shown in Fig. 6. The steel plate B in the second section of the finger is connected to the steel plate A in the first section by a rivet X and to the hand-iron O by a similar rivet X and is also connected with the mechanism in the center of the hand by the connectingrod E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. All four fingers are similarly constructed and similarly connected, with the exceptionthat the length the fingers of a natural hand,'as shown in Fig. 1.

The four connecting-rods E are connected to the iron, axle or. shaft F, as shown in Fig.

'of the fingers are proportionate in length to 1. The shaft'F runsthrough arotating disk Gr, as shown in Fig. 6, the shaft being firmly fastenedin the disk. In the rotating disk G is firmly fastened the axle H, which axle His set in two standards I and I, firmly fastened to the hand-iron C, as shown in Fig. 1. Attached to the standards I and I and pressing at the other end against the shaft F is the spring J, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 11, which causes the fingers to become straight when the rotating disk G is disconnected with the wormgear D D, as shown in Fig. 3.. Y

Just below the worm-gear on the shaft B B the standardFFhas an opening G G, as shown in Fig. 5, made in an oval shape, so as to allow theshaft BB to move up and down, but not sidewise. The axle H of the rotating disk G has at one end a crank K, into a hole W near the outer. extremity of which .is attached the connecting mechanism ofthe thumb, as shown in'Figs. 1 and 6.

The thumb, consists of three sections, the outer surface being composed of aluminium or wood shaped to resemblea natural thumb, with steel plates arranged in the center of each section similar to the steel plates arranged in the center of thesections of the fingers. The steel plate S in the second section of thethumb is connected to the. steel. plate, T in the first section by a rivet X and is similarly connected to the steel plateRin the third section by a rivet X, as shown; in Figs. 6 and 8. The

steel plate Tis :also connected with the steel plate It by the .link'zP, andthe steel plate S is connected by the link Owith the forging Q,

an angle-shapedpiece of steelor iron, which in turn is connected by the bolt and spring V to the steel plate U, a thin plate of steel or other metal, which crosses the inside or palm of the hand, as shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 9.

In the forging U are three holes or indentations, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, into which fits a slight knob or projection made on the forging Q. By lightly pressing up under the first section T of the thumb and at the same time bearing down on the top of the second section S of the thumb the forging Q is lifted from the forging U at the point where the projection is, the spring V giving so as to permit this, and the forging Q can be then revolved or rotated on the bolt V, so as to cause the projection on Q to slip into a different hole in the forging U. When the projection on Q is in the hole farthest from the center of the hand, the thumb is raised from the palm of the hand and will close over or outside of the fingers, as shown in Fig. 7. When the projection on Q is in the center hole, the thumb when closed will just meet with the end of the forefinger, as shown in Fig. 11. When the projection is in the hole nearest the palm of the hand, the thumb is thrown out and the thumb is in the position of a natural thumb when at rest, as shown in Fig. 1.

The third section R of the thumb is also connected to the crank K of the rotating disk Gr by the connecting-rod N, having a knuckle, which knuckle is inserted in a small hole W in the steel plate R, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and is at the other end attached to the spring M, forming a swivel with the connecting-rod L, as shown in Fig. 12. The connecting-rod L at the other end is connected with the crank K by means of a knuckle, which fits into a small hole W in crank K, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. By means of this connecting mechanism the operator is enabled to place the thumb in several different positions.

The thumb has but three positionsto wit, (a) the extended or natural position, as when the thumb is lying opposite to and parallel with the index-finger, as when the hand is at rest; (6) when the entire thumb, excepting the fulcrum thereof, is thrown toward the palm of the hand to meet the extremities of the fingers when the hand is closed, as when used in picking up small articles, and may be thus operated in holding a pen while writing; (0) when the entire thumb, except the fulcrum thereof, is thrown toward the palm of the hand, as in (6), only the extremity is raised higher and joins on the outer side of the fingers, as when the hand is closed, and may be thus used in grasping larger articles.

The rotating disk Gr is operated by means of a Worm-gear D D, firmly fixed on the shaft B B, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The shaft B B is attached at its upper end to the steel plate or hand-iron C by the standard A A, as shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7. To the shaft B B is also attached the spring 0 C, as shown in Figs. 6

and 7, the tension of which pulls the wormgear D D away from the rotating disk Gr, when the disk J J, by means of twisting the forearm to the extreme left, is turned with its fiat side K K against the steel plate or handiron C, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

On the shaft B B, below the worm-gear D D, is the pinion-wheel E E, which pinion-wheel E E gears with the rack H H, firmly attached to the standard FF, as shown in Fig. 5, when the worm-gear D D is disconnected from the rotating disk G, which rack and pinion-wheel give the shaft B B a rotating motion when it is put into gear and a backward motion when the worm-gear is thrown out of gear, its purpose being to slacken the strain on the lingers before throwing them out of gear.

Below the standard F F the shaft B B terminates in the small wheel I I, as shown in Fig. 4. The small wheel I I is set into the disk J J, which has a fiat side K K, as shown by the dotted line in Figs. 2 and 3. On the upper side of the disk J J are two pawls L L and L L, as shown in Fig. 4. The pawls L L are held against the friction or small wheel I I by the springs M M and M M, as shown in Fig. 4. The small friction-wheel I I is held in the wheel J J by two clutches N N and N N, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the disk J J, with its flat side K K, as shown in Fig. 4, is against the hand-iron C, it causes the shaft B B and the worm-gear D D to fall away from the rotating disk G, as shown in Fig. 3, and thus throws in turn the gear out when the spring J causes the disk G to rotate, so that the lingers and thumb assume an open position. Into the disk J J fastens the shaft P P, which passes through the standard 0 O and terminates in the knuckle Q Q, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The knuckle Q Q fits into a similar knuckle Q Q of the shaft R R.

The hand-iron C and the mechanism connected therewith is inclosed by an outer covering of aluminium or wood, which outer covering is made in the shape of a natural hand save that an opening is left in the upper palm of said artificial hand for the rod L to pass, connecting the thumb mechanism with the mechanism in the center of the hand, as above described. Across the upper and outer surface of the palm of said artificial hand is firmly fastened the steel plate U, as above described.

Bolted firmly to the hand-iron C at the lower extremity by rivets is a horseshoe-shaped iron S S, the lower end of which terminates in a hollow ball T T, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The ball T T consists of a lower piece firmly attached to the horeshoe-shaped iron S S, and the upper part of the hollow ball is connected with the lower part by means of a bolt X X, as shown in Fig. 6, through the middle of which bolt runs the shaft R R, as shown in Fig. 10.

The bolt X X may be fastened at either end in the arm-irons W W and W W, so that it turns with them; Fastened to the bolt X X above and below where the shaft R R passes through the bolt X X are the spring-stops V V and V V, as shown in Fig. 10. On the inside of the hollow ball T T are the brackets A A A andA AA, as shown in Fig. 10. i The springs Y Y and Y Y are attached to the bolt X X, respectively, above andbelow the opening-for the shaft R R, and the other ends of such springs are 'so fixed as to strike against the brackets A A A and A A A, respectively.

By means of the spring-stops V V and V V the respective springs are prevented from opening too far, and when the hand is rotated to the right the-left spring will bring it back" to a straight position, If it is desired to keep the hand turned at the wrist, either to the right or left position, the lever ZZ, acting as a wrench, can be turned and the nut tightened on the bolt X X, thus-holding thehand in the desired position.

Where the bolt X X passes through the arm:

irons W W and'W W, respectively, the openbolt X X, as shown in Fig. 6.

ings may consist of a slotted hole in each, the

slots being parallel to the shaft R R. The

springs are arranged, respectively, on either side of the bolt X X, so as tobring the hand back to the natural or straight position when it has been bent downward or upward.

The shaft R R after passing through the opening of the bolt X X terminates into a knuckle Q Q, which fits into a similar knuckle Q'Q, of the shaft Y, which shaft is connected with'the forearm by a screw and nut Z.

Connecting with thehollow ball T T arethe steel arm-ironsW W and W W, which are fir'mly fastened to the hollow balls T Tby the The arm-piece UU, to which is attached the shaft Y, is composed of iron, steel, or other suitable material and ismade in the form of a clevis, so as to fit the fiat sides of the arm. The said arm-piece is kept in place upon the stump of the natural arm by means of a leather covering, which is rivetedorattached to said clevis-shaped arm-piece and fastened tothebars and" the mechanism regulated by ropes attached to theshoulder or otherwise, so that I do not claim theinvention of artificial hands broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. An artificial hand consisting of a main section, four fingers and the thumb, all of which parts, are composed of thinplates'of steel, iron or other suitable material, to which all the mechanism for"operating the fingers and thumb are attached, the fingers being diand fingers, by means ofc'ross-links between alternate sections thereof, and by means also of connecting rods or links, are connected with a worm-gear, arranged in the hollow of the hand, whlch worm-gear1s connected with,

and wholly operated by the movement of the forearm, all arranged-substantially as shown and for the'purposes set forth.

' 3. An artificial hand in which the thumb is attached to the palm of the hand, by an angleshaped piece of iron, steel or other suitable material, one side of which is bolted to the third or lower section'of the thumb, and the other side of which is fastened by means of a bolt and spring, and held in different positions by a knob or pin projecting from the lowerside of this angle-shaped piece, fitting into holes or indentations in the bar or plate of steel, iron or other material, which crosses the upper surface or palm of the hand, by

which means the thumb may be placed in three or more positions, all substantially as shown and for thepurposes described.

4. An artificial hand having at ajoint corresponding with the wrist of the natural hand,

a hollow steel or iron ball to the upper and lower sides of which are attached irons from the upper arm, the ends of which are cupped so as to fit overthe top of the hollow ball, and i which are secured to the ball by means of a bolt, which 'bolt has a hollow or opening in its center, to allow the shaft connecting :the worm-gearWith the forearm to pass through, to which bolt is also attached, on opposite sides of said opening, springs to bring the hand to its natural position after being moved eitherto the right or to the left all substan'-' tially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. An artificial hand having in thewrist joint a hollow steel or iron ball to which is attached, onopposite sides, irons-from the upper arm, in which arm-irons are slotted" holes, through which a bol't connecting the irons to the hollow ball'passes,-and'springs bearing against the bolt. so as to bring the hand into a straight position when moved up 7 shown and for the purposes deordown toward thepalm or-back, all subor links from the finger or thumb attached to a rotating disk, to which is attached'a spring I to cause the fingers to open, which disk'is regulated by a worm-gear attached to a shaft, which in turn isoperated by means of a disk,

circular in shape, having one side cut away, In testimony whereofIhave signed my name which disk is connected by means of a shaft to this specificationin the presence of two subwith the forearm, so that a turn of the forescribing witnesses.

arm will turn the worm-gear, and cause the HARRY L. FELIO. rotating disk to close in or open the fingers Witnesses:

as desired, all substantially as shown, and for MORTON S. CREssY,

the purposes described. 1 L. H. TUTTLE. 

